Lock for hinged windows



June 25, 1940. H. H. TRACY 2,205,677

LOCK FOR HINGED WINDOWS Filed Aug. 6, 1938 22 l 2X W 33 f 30 Mm Fm@ 3 r/2 INVENTOR. HAS/DEN f1. TRACK ATTORNEY Patented June 25, 1940 mail? ears iii-E LOCK FOR HINGED WINDOWS Hayden H. Tracy,

Application August 6,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in locks for hinged windows and the like, and is particularly adapted to easement Windows, door transoms, or other hinged `bodies in which a window 5 sash, door, or similar hingedly `mounted body is mounted in a frame.`

The invention may be employed in any situation where it is desired to releasably lock one pivoted or hinged member in adjustable relation to a Xed frame or support, but 'as one eXemplii-lcation of its practical use it is described herein with reference to a easement window sash which is hinged to a window casing orframe.

` Broadly, the invention involves a bar connected to a casing of a hinged window or the like and a gripping device to releasably lock the bar by frictional engagement. Devices of this general character are old in a broad sense, but they have presented unsolved problems and diiculties because the gripping means is caused to bind on its pivot dueto the usual relatively small base thereof and the lateral pressure of the bar member which forces the vertical aXis of the gripping means out of alignment with the axis of its pivot pin. A spring actuated', manually manipulable gripping device being highly desirable, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved spring actuated releasable locking device for positioning easement windows, transoms, and the like which will eliminate binding of the locking device. Another Objectis to providesuch a l'ocking device in which spring actuated gripping member is mounted in pivotal relation toV the base therefor and is prevented from binding against the pivot "l pin; another object is to provide such a locking device which is simple and economical in construction. efficient in operation, and generally to improve on locking devices of this character.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which will be more apparent as this description proceeds, the invention is exempliiied` in one form in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the il claims hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in the ferm, proportion, size and details of construction of the apparatus may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from 'the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more ciearly comprehend the invention, reference is directed tothe accompanying drawing wherein:

l is a `perspective View of the invention in mountedcn the sill of a window frame.

San Francisco, Calif.

1938, Serial No'.` 223,484

Fig- 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal vertical section of the device of Fig. 1, and showing a gripping device in its locking position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal vertical section of the gripping device of Figs. l and 2, illustrating the position of the members ofthe gripping device when in released or unlocked position. Fig. 4 is' a perspective View of a base plate of a gripping member.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a finger grip ele-v -in'ent of a gripping device.

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modification of the invention.

In describing the invention reference is hereby `made to the accompanying drawing, the reference characters in .the several views being the same for corresponding parts thereof.

Referringrstto Figs. l to 5, inclusive, of the drawing, il) indicates generally a window sash which is hinge'dl'y mounted at one side 'edge il to a fran'ie or window casing i2, the sill of which is indicated I3. A relatively long and broad plate lilis adapted for fixed mounting to the sill I3 by screws i5 adjacentits four corners. The plate ,ill is fiat and has a hole it drilled substantially at its center'. Upon this' base is pivotally mounted a gripping device indicated in its entirety Il. The `gripping device il has a relatively long and broad base i8 which is pivotally mounted on the plate ld by a headed pivot pin i9 which passes through a hole llla` in the base i8t and through the plate Ill, and is held in iixed relation with plate I@ by being swaged as at it. The base I8, being relatively broad and long, has its lower face in superficial contact with the upper iace'oi plate Hl so that when the gripping device il is rotated or pivoted on the pin I9, there' will always be a large area of the base i8 in contact with the falce of the plate lli, which prevents the' tipping or ltilting of the gripping member il away from its normal' vertical axis of rotation or pivoting' on pin i9, regardless of the position which it may assume in its operation; The grippingv device Il is provided with. a pair of vertically upright finger grip members 2l, 22, which have hingedl connection at their lower ends, 23, 2d, to the ends ofthe base it and haveextensions above the bar 32 by which the finger members may be manipulated into and out of frictional engagement with said bar. For simplicity and economy of construction in making this hinged connection, it is preferred that the opposite end portions of base I8` be turned back or retroverted upon itself as at 25- and be provided at the bends thereof with a stamped-out portion providing an elongated opening or slot 26 laterally transverse of and substantially parallel with the plane of base I8, for receiving an ear 2i formed at the lower ends 23, 24, of the iinger grip members 2l, 22, said lower ends being also bent or flanged approximately at a right angle at their lower ends providing a portion 23 which nts loosely beneath the retroverted part 25 of the base i8 and provides a shoulder 23 which bears against the inturned wall of said base. Intermediate the respective ends of each of the finger members 2i 22 there is provided a hole or opening 3i?, 3l, through which there is received a bar 3,2, the diameter ofwhich is slightly less than the diameter of the openings 310, 3l, so as to provide a slidable relationship. Between the finger grip members 2l, 22, there is slidably mounted upon the bar 32 a coil spring 33 which, when expanded, presses the nger grip members to an oblique angle relative to base i8 so vthat the periphery of holes 33, 3|, due to such change of angle, provide a frictional engagement with the bar 32 and thus frictionally lock the bar against inadvertent movement. By manual manipulation of the ringer grip members toward each other or to a substantial perpendicular to base i8, the spring 33 is compressed and the frictionallockof the finger grip members against the bar is released so that the bar 32 may slide freely through the openings 3G, 3|, said openings, as previously stated, being slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the bar 32. The coils of the spring 33 are of sufficient number and diameter so that when the finger grip members are manually pressed toward each other until the said coils are relatively in contact, the linger grip members are at a position where they are completely free of frictional locking engagement with the bar 32; thus the spring 33 also serves as a spacer element between the iinger grip members and when thus compressed prevents the finger grip members from being moved toward each other to such an extent that they will bind the movement of the bar 32. The bar 32 is pivotally connected at one end thereof as at 34 to a boss 35 of a plate 36,

the `latter being adapted for connection. to the lower bar of a window sash by means of screws 31.

Referring to the mcdication of Fig. 6, the plate iii and the bar 32 and pivot pin i9 are similar tolike elements in Fig. 2. In this modication, however, the fingers 2l, 22 which fricti'onally grip the bar 32 comprise a continuous strip of spring metal which is bent upon itself at each end of its base i8 so as to form loops 33 having sunicient spring cr resilience to actuate the finger grip members 2l, 22 into frictional locking engagement with the bar 32. In order to release the` bar from such frctional locking engagement, the finger grip members 2l, 22 are moved toward each other. A spacer member 40 is s'lidably mounted on the bar 32 between the finger grip members so that they cannot be moved toward each other sufiiciently to inadvertently lock the bar and thereby prevent its movement.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the mode of operation is self-explanatory. Having mounted the device in relation to a hinged kwindow or the like, with the bar 32 having its pivoted end connected to the window sash, the gripping device will, due to the spring tension exerted upon linger grip members 2l, 22, frictionally lock the bar 32 from movement. In order to release the bar from. the frictional lock, it is necessary only to press the iinger grip members toward each other, which changes the angle of the iinger grip members relative to the bar and since the openings 30, 3l are of greater diameter than the bar, the bar 32 will then be freely slidable through said openings. If the linger grip members are pressed too closelytoward each other, they would lock the bar against movement and therefore the spring member 33 in Fig. 2 and the spacer member 4D in Fig. 6 are provided to prevent such excessive movement. To prevent the bar being completely withdrawn from the gripping device, a nob 32a is provided at its free end.

yThus I have provided a locking device in which the .gripping member for the bar is pivotally mounted, and in which the base on which it is mounted is sumciently broad and flat so as to maintain the gripping device on a proper vertical axis of rotation or pivoting on the pivot pin; thus', there is no binding thereof at any position to which the gripping device may be pivoted by movement of the window sash and bar 32.

I claim:

l. In a releasable locking device of the character described having a bar provided with an end portion pivotally connectible to a hinged sash, a device for frictionally and releasably clamping said bar at arbitrary positions, comprising a plate for xed mounting on a frame adjacent the sash, a gripping device having an opening therethrough for slidably receiving the bar and having a base pivotally mounted on said plate on a pivotal axis perpendicular to the plate, said base extending outwardly parallel to and in slidable facial contact with said plate, the l said gripping device including spring actuated means for frictionally locking said bar at arbitrary positions, and being selectively manually releasable so that the bar may slide freely therethrough, and said means for frictionally locking the bar being mounted on its base i'ixedly against pivotal rotation relative to its base whereby said means and its base pivot simultaneously relative to the frame plate.

2. In a releasable locking device of the char'Y l acter described having a bar provided with an end portion pivotally connectible to a hinged sash, a device for frictionally and releasably clamping said bar at arbitrary positions, comprising a plate for iiXed mounting on a frame adjacent the sash, a gripping device having a base pivotally mounted on said plate on a pivotal axis perpendicular to the plate, saidbase extending outwardly parallel to and in slidable facial contact with said plate, the said gripping device having a pair of relatively spaced sp-ring-tensioned nger members each having an opening therethrough for slidably receiving the bar, said finger members being operable responsive to yclamping said bar at arbitrary positions, comprising a plate for lixed mounting on a frame adjacent the sash, a gripping device having a base pivotally mounted on said plate in slidably axis of pivoting of the gripping device being perpendicular to said plate, and said means for frictionally locking the bar being mounted on its base xedly against pivotal rotation relative to its base whereby said means and its base pivot simultaneously relative to the frame plate.

4. In a releasable locking device of the character described having a bar provided with an end portion pivotally connectible to a hinged sash, a device for frictionally and releasably clamping said bar at arbitrary positions, comprising a plate for i'ixed mounting on a frame adjacent the sash, a gripping device having a base pivotally mounted on said `plate and having spring-tensioned ng'er members each having an opening therethrough for slidably receiving the bar, said base extending' outwardly from said pivotal mounting perpendicularly thereto, said lnger members being operable responsive to said spring tension for frictionally locking said bar at arbitrary positions, and being selectively manually releasable so that the bar may slide freely therethrough, the axis of pivoting of the gripping device being perpendicular to said plate, and said means for frictionally locking the bar being mountedon its base xedly against pivotal rotation relative to its base whereby said means and its base pivot simultaneously relative to the frame plate.

5. In a releasable locking device of the character described having a bar provided with an end portion pivotally connectible to a hinged sash, a device for frictionally and releasably clamping said bar at arbitrary positions, comprising a plate for xed mounting on a frame adjacent the sash, a gripping device pivotally mounted on said plate on a pivotal axis perpendicular to the plate, said gripping device having a base and a pair of relatively spaced springtensioned nger members connected at the bottom portion to said base, each finger grip member having an opening therethrough intermediate its ends for slidably receiving the bar, said nger grip members being operable responsive to spring tension for frictionally locking said bar at arbitrary positions, and having a free extended portion above the bar whereby said iingers are selectively manually releasable so that the bar may slide freely therethrough, .said base of the gripping device and said plate having relatively Darallel faces of relatively large area in superficial slidable contact, and said means for frictionally locking the bar being` mounted on its base xedly against pivotal rotation relative to its base whereby said means and its base pivot simultaneously relative to the frame plate.

6. In a releasable locking device of the character described having a bar provided with an end portion pivotally connectible to a hinged sash, a device for frictionally and releasably clamping said bar at arbitrary positions, comprising a plate for fixed mounting on a frame adjacent the sash, a gripping device having a base pivotally mounted on said plateand having a pair of relatively spaced nger members each having an opening therethrough for slidably receiving the bar, said base extending outwardly from said pivotal mounting perpendicularly thereto,` and a coil spring member slidably mounted onisaid bar between the iinger members, said iinger members being actuated by said spring for frictionally locking said bar at arbitrary positions, and being selectively manually releasable so that the bar may slide freely therethrough, the axis of pivoting of the gripping device being perpendicular to the said plate, and said means for frictionally locking the bar being mounted on its base fixedly against pivotal rotation relative to its base whereby said means andits base pivot simultaneously relative to the frame plate.

7. In a releasable locking device of the character described having a bar provided with an end portion pivotally connectible to a hinged a device for frictionally and releasably clamping said bar at arbitrary positions, comprising a plate for fixed mounting on a frame adjacent the sash, a gripping device having a base pivotally mounted on said plate and extending outwardly from said pivotal mounting in slidable facial Contact with said plate, said gripping device including a pair of relatively spaced finger member said iinger grip members being hingedly mounted to said base at their respective lower ends, each finger member having an opening therethrough for slidably receiving the bar, a coil spring' member slidably mounted on said bar between the linger members to actuate said finger members relatively in opposite directions for frictionally locking said bar at arbitrary positions,

said finger members having an upper free endk portion for manipulation for selectively releasing said spIing-tensioned lock so that the bar may slide freely through said iingers, the pivotal axis of the gripping device being perpendicular to the plate, and said means for frictionally locking the bar being mounted on its base fixedly against pivotal rotation relative to its base whereby said means and its base pivot simultaneously relative to the frame plate.

8. In a releasable locking device of the character described having a bar provided with an end portion pivotally connectible to a hinged sash, a vdevice for frictionally and releasably clamping said bar at arbitrary positions, comprising a plate for xed mounting on a trame adjacent the sash, a gripping device having a base pivotally mounted on said plate, said base being turned upon itself providing a pair of relatively spaced resilient iinger members integrally formed with said base, each having an opening therethrough for slidably receiving the bar, a spacer member mounted on said bar between the nger members of a length to stop the `movement of said fingers toward each other at the position thereof wherein the bar may slide freely in either direction throughithe openings, the said iinger grip members being spring actuated for frictionally locking said bar at arbitrary positions, and being manually releasable so that the bar may slide freely therethrough, and said means for frictionally locking the bar being mounted on its base fixedly against pivotal rotation relative to its base whereby said means and its base pivot simultaneously relative to the frame plate. 

